Mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal includes a terminal body having a front surface and a rear surface, an input unit disposed at the rear surface to sense an input of a control command and a controller configured to process an input applied to the input unit. The input unit includes a first button portion exposed at an outside of the terminal body at the rear surface of the terminal body and configured to receive a push input corresponding to a first function and a second button portion surrounding the first button portion and configured to receive a push input corresponding to a second function different from the first function, the second button portion including keys disposed adjacent the first button portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2013-0014680, filed on Feb. 8, 2013, which is hereinexpressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a mobile terminal having a user inputunit for receiving a control command.

2. Description of Related Art

Terminals can be classified into two types, such as a mobile/portableterminal and a stationary terminal based on its mobility. Furthermore,the mobile terminal can be further classified into two types, such as ahandheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal based on whether or notit can be directly carried by a user.

As it becomes multifunctional, for example, such a terminal is allowedto capture still images or moving images, play music or video files,play games, receive broadcast and the like, so as to be implemented asan integrated multimedia player.

Various new attempts have been made for the multimedia devices in theaspect of hardware or software in order to implement such complicatedfunctions. For example, a user interface environment is provided inorder for users to easily and conveniently retrieve or select functions.

Also, many users have their mobile terminals to express their ownpersonalities, and accordingly, various designs are required for themobile terminal. Such designs may also include structural changes andimprovements for the user to more conveniently use the mobile terminal.A manipulation unit may be considered as one of such structural changesand improvements.

However, a manipulation unit provided additionally from the touch screendeteriorates the slimness and simple design of the terminal.Furthermore, there exists a problem such as reducing a display area dueto the manipulation unit at a lateral surface of the terminal.Accordingly, a new structure of input method capable of solving such aproblem may be taken into consideration.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminalcapable of receiving a new type of user input which is different fromthe related art.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a mobile terminalto which new design can be applied on a lateral surface of the terminal.

In order to accomplish the foregoing objective, a mobile terminalassociated with the present disclosure may include a terminal bodyhaving a front surface and a rear surface, a user input unit disposed atthe rear surface to sense an input of a control command, and acontroller configured to process an input manipulation applied to theuser input unit, wherein the user input unit includes a first buttonportion exposed to the outside from the rear surface to receive a pushinput of a first function, and a second button portion provided withkeys disposed at both sides around the first button portion to receive apush input of a second function different from the first function.

Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, there is disclosed amobile terminal including a terminal body provided with a front surfaceand a rear surface and lengthily formed in the length direction, adisplay unit disposed at the front surface and formed to display visualinformation, and a user input unit formed to sense an input of a controlcommand, wherein the user input unit is overlapped with the display unitin a thickness direction of the body and exposed to the rear surfacerather than the lateral surface to remove a groove formed by the userinput unit at a lateral surface of the body along the length direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal associated withan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A through 2C are conceptual views illustrating an operationimplemented by the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a front perspective view illustrating an example of a mobileterminal associated with the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view illustrating a mobile terminalillustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the mobile terminal of FIG. 3B;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a detailed exploded view and a cross-sectional viewillustrating a rear surface input unit in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a detailed exploded view and a cross-sectional viewillustrating a rear surface input unit according to another embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a front view illustrating the mobile terminal ofFIG. 3A and conceptual views illustrating modified examples of a lateralsurface thereof;

FIG. 8A is a plan view illustrating another example of a mobile terminalassociated with the present disclosure;

FIG. 8B is a side view illustrating still another example of a mobileterminal associated with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9 through 11 are conceptual views illustrating another example ofan operation implemented by the mobile terminal of FIG. 3B;

FIGS. 12A through 12E are rear views illustrating a mobile terminalassociated with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the mobile terminal ofFIG. 12A;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are conceptual views illustrating a user interfaceassociated with an interlocking between the rear input unit and thedisplay unit; and

FIG. 15 is a conceptual view illustrating a user interface associatedwith an indicator displayed on the display unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal associated with the present disclosurewill be described in more detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. This specification employs like/similar reference numerals forlike/similar components irrespective of different embodiments, so theyall will be understood by the first description. The expression in thesingular form in this specification will cover the expression in theplural form unless otherwise indicated obviously from the context.

A mobile terminal disclosed herein may include a portable phone, a smartphone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcast terminal, personal digitalassistants (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation, andthe like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal associated withan embodiment of the present disclosure.

The mobile terminal 100 may include a wireless communication unit 110,an audio/video (A/V) input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensingunit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, an interface unit 170, acontroller 180, a power supply unit 190, and the like. However, theconstituent elements as illustrated in FIG. 1 are not necessarilyrequired, and the mobile terminal may be implemented with greater orless number of elements than those illustrated elements.

Hereinafter, the constituent elements will be described in sequence.

The wireless communication unit 110 typically includes one or moreelements allowing radio communication between the mobile terminal 100and a wireless communication system, or allowing radio communicationbetween radio communication the mobile terminal 100 and a network inwhich the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wirelesscommunication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, amobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, ashort-range communication module 114, a location information module 115,and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives broadcast signals and/orbroadcast associated information from an external broadcast managementserver through a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and/or aterrestrial channel. The broadcast management server may mean a serverthat generates and transmits a broadcast signal and/or broadcastassociated information or a server that receives a previously generatedbroadcast signal and/or broadcast associated information and transmitsto the mobile terminal 100. The broadcast signal may include a TVbroadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal and a data broadcast signalas well as a broadcast signal in a form that a data broadcast signal iscoupled to the TV or radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast associated information may mean information regarding abroadcast channel, a broadcast program, a broadcast service provider,and the like. The broadcast associated information may also be providedthrough a mobile communication network, and in this case, the broadcastassociated information may be received by the mobile communicationmodule 112.

The broadcast associated information may exist in various forms. Forexample, it may exist in the form of an electronic program guide (EPG)of digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), electronic service guide (ESG)of digital video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H), and the like.

The broadcast receiving module 111 may receive a broadcast signal usingvarious types of broadcast systems. In particular, the broadcastreceiving module 111 may receive a digital broadcast signal using adigital broadcast system such as digital multimediabroadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T), digital multimediabroadcasting-satellite (DMB-S), media forward link only (MediaFLO),digital video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H), integrated services digitalbroadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T), and the like. The broadcast receivingmodule 111 is, of course, configured to be suitable for every broadcastsystem that provides a broadcast signal as well as the above-mentioneddigital broadcast systems.

The broadcast signal and/or broadcast-associated information receivedthrough the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and/or receives a radiosignal to and/or from at least one of a base station, an externalterminal and a server over a mobile communication network. Here, theradio signal may include a voice call signal, a video call signal and/orvarious types of data according to text and/or multimedia messagetransmission and/or reception.

The wireless Internet module 113 means a module for supporting wirelessInternet access. The wireless Internet module 113 may be built-in orexternally installed to the mobile terminal 100. Here, it may be used awireless Internet access technique including a WLAN (Wireless LAN),Wi-Fi, Wibro (Wireless Broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability forMicrowave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), and thelike.

The short-range communication module 114 is a module for supporting ashort-range communication. Here, it may be used a short-rangecommunication technology including Bluetooth, Radio FrequencyIDentification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra WideBand(UWB), ZigBee, and the like.

The location information module 115 is a module for checking oracquiring a location of the mobile terminal, and there is a GPS moduleas a representative example.

Referring to FIG. 1, the A/V (audio/video) input unit 120 receives anaudio or video signal, and the A/V (audio/video) input unit 120 mayinclude a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes aimage frame, such as still picture or video, obtained by an image sensorin a video phone call or image capturing mode. The processed image framemay be displayed on a display module 151.

The image frames processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory160 or transmitted to an external device through the wirelesscommunication unit 110. Two or more cameras 121 may be providedaccording to the use environment of the mobile terminal.

The microphone 122 receives an external audio signal through amicrophone in a phone call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognitionmode, and the like, and processes the audio signal into electrical voicedata. The processed voice data may be converted and outputted into aformat that is transmittable to a mobile communication base stationthrough the mobile communication module 112 in the phone call mode. Themicrophone 122 may implement various types of noise canceling algorithmsto cancel noise generated in a procedure of receiving the external audiosignal.

The user input unit 130 may generate input data to control an operationof the terminal. The user input unit 130 may be configured by includinga keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (pressure/capacitance), a jogwheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 detects a current status of the mobile terminal 100such as an opened or closed state of the mobile terminal 100, a locationof the mobile terminal 100, an orientation of the mobile terminal 100,and the like, and generates a sensing signal for controlling theoperation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobileterminal 100 is a slide phone type, it may sense an opened or closedstate of the slide phone. Furthermore, the sensing unit 140 takes chargeof a sensing function associated with whether or not power is suppliedfrom the power supply unit 190, or whether or not an external device iscoupled to the interface unit 170. On the other hand, the sensing unit140 may include a proximity sensor 141.

The output unit 150 is configured to provide an output for audio signal,video signal, or alarm signal, and the output unit 150 may include thedisplay module 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, ahaptic module 154, and the like.

The display module 151 may display (output) information processed in themobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in aphone call mode, the display module 151 may display a User Interface(UI) or a Graphic User Interface (GUI) associated with a call. When themobile terminal 100 is in a video call mode or image capturing mode, thedisplay module 151 may display a captured image and/or received image, aUI or GUI.

The display module 151 may include at least one of a Liquid CrystalDisplay (LCD), a Thin Film Transistor-LCD (TFT-LCD), an Organic LightEmitting Diode (OLED) display, a flexible display, a three-dimensional(3D) display.

Some of those displays may be configured with a transparent or opticaltransparent type to allow viewing of the exterior through the displayunit, which may be called transparent displays. An example of thetypical transparent displays may include a transparent LCD (TOLED), andthe like. Under this configuration, a user can view an object positionedat a rear side of a terminal body through a region occupied by thedisplay module 151 of the terminal body.

The display module 151 may be implemented in two or more in numberaccording to a configured aspect of the portable terminal 100. Forinstance, a plurality of the display units 151 may be arranged on onesurface to be spaced apart from or integrated with each other, or may bearranged on different surfaces.

Here, if the display module 151 and a touch sensitive sensor (referredto as a “touch sensor”) have an interlayer structure, the structure maybe referred to as a “touch screen”. The display module 151 may be usedas an input device rather than an output device. The touch sensor may beimplemented as a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, and the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert changes of a pressureapplied to a specific part of the display module 151, or a capacitanceoccurring from a specific part of the display module 151, into electricinput signals. Also, the touch sensor may be configured to sense notonly a touched position and a touched area, but also a touch pressure.

When touch inputs are sensed by the touch sensors, corresponding signalsare transmitted to a touch controller (not shown). The touch controllerprocesses the received signals, and then transmits corresponding data tothe controller 180. Accordingly, the controller 180 may sense whichregion of the display module 151 has been touched.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor 141 may be arranged at an innerregion of the portable terminal 100 covered by the touch screen, or nearthe touch screen. The proximity sensor indicates a sensor to sensepresence or absence of an object approaching to a surface to be sensed,or an object disposed near a surface to be sensed, by using anelectromagnetic field or infrared rays without a mechanical contact. Theproximity sensor has a longer lifespan and a more enhanced utility thana contact sensor.

The proximity sensor may include an optical transmission typephotoelectric sensor, a direct reflective type photoelectric sensor, amirror reflective type photoelectric sensor, a high-frequencyoscillation proximity sensor, a capacitance type proximity sensor, amagnetic type proximity sensor, an infrared rays proximity sensor, andso on. When the touch screen is implemented as a capacitance type,proximity of a pointer to the touch screen is sensed by changes of anelectromagnetic field. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) maybe categorized into a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of brief explanation, a statusthat the pointer is positioned to be proximate onto the touch screenwithout contact will be referred to as “proximity touch”, whereas astatus that the pointer substantially comes in contact with the touchscreen will be referred to as “contact touch”. For the positioncorresponding to the proximity touch of the pointer on the touch screen,such position corresponds to a position where the pointer facesperpendicular to the touch screen upon the proximity touch of thepointer.

The proximity sensor senses proximity touch, and proximity touchpatterns (e.g., distance, direction, speed, time, position, movingstatus, etc.). Information relating to the sensed proximity touch andthe sensed proximity touch patterns may be output onto the touch screen.

The audio output module 152 may output audio data received from thewireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160, in acall-receiving mode, a call-placing mode, a recording mode, a voicerecognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and so on. The audiooutput module 152 may output audio signals relating to functionsperformed in the portable terminal 100, e.g., sound alarming a callreceived or a message received, and so on. The audio output module 152may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and so on.

The alarm 153 outputs signals notifying occurrence of events from theportable terminal 100. The events occurring from the portable terminal100 may include call received, message received, key signal input, touchinput, and so on. The alarm 153 may output not only video or audiosignals, but also other types of signals such as signals notifyingoccurrence of events in a vibration manner. Since the video or audiosignals can be output through the display module 151 or the audio outputunit 152, the display module 151 and the audio output module 152 may becategorized into a part of the alarm 153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects which a user canfeel. A representative example of the tactile effects generated by thehaptic module 154 includes vibration. Vibration generated by the hapticmodule 154 may have a controllable intensity, a controllable pattern,and so on. For instance, different vibration may be output in asynthesized manner or in a sequential manner.

The haptic module 154 may generate various tactile effects, includingnot only vibration, but also arrangement of pins vertically moving withrespect to a skin being touched, air injection force or air suctionforce through an injection hole or a suction hole, touch by a skinsurface, presence or absence of contact with an electrode, effects bystimulus such as an electrostatic force, reproduction of cold or hotfeeling using a heat absorbing device or a heat emitting device, and thelike.

The haptic module 154 may be configured to transmit tactile effectsthrough a user's direct contact, or a user's muscular sense using afinger or a hand. The haptic module 154 may be implemented in two ormore in number according to the configuration of the portable terminal100.

The memory 160 may store a program for processing and controlling thecontroller 180. Alternatively, the memory 160 may temporarily storeinput/output data (e.g., phonebook data, messages, audios, still images,videos, and the like). Also, the memory 160 may store data related tovarious patterns of vibrations and sounds outputted upon the touch inputon the touch screen.

The memory 160 may be implemented using any type of suitable storagemedium including a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimediacard micro type, a memory card type (e.g., SD or DX memory), RandomAccess Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-OnlyMemory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory(EEPROM), Programmable Read-only Memory (PROM), magnetic memory,magnetic disk, optical disk, and the like. Also, the mobile terminal 100may operate a web storage which performs the storage function of thememory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 may generally be implemented to interface theportable terminal with external devices. The interface unit 170 mayallow a data reception from an external device, a power delivery to eachcomponent in the portable terminal 100, or a data transmission from theportable terminal 100 to an external device. The interface unit 170 mayinclude, for example, wired/wireless headset ports, external chargerports, wired/wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for couplingdevices having an identification module, audio Input/Output (I/O) ports,video I/O ports, earphone ports, and the like.

The identification module may be configured as a chip for storingvarious information required to authenticate an authority to use theportable terminal 100, which may include a User Identity Module (UIM), aSubscriber Identity Module (SIM), and the like. Also, the device havingthe identification module (hereinafter, referred to as ‘identificationdevice’) may be implemented in a type of smart card. Hence, theidentification device can be coupled to the portable terminal 100 via aport.

Also, the interface unit may serve as a path for power to be suppliedfrom an external cradle to the portable terminal 100 when the portableterminal 100 is connected to the external cradle or as a path fortransferring various command signals inputted from the cradle by a userto the portable terminal 100. Such various command signals or powerinputted from the cradle may operate as signals for recognizing that theportable terminal 100 has accurately been mounted to the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operations of theportable terminal 100. For example, the controller 180 performs thecontrol and processing associated with telephony calls, datacommunications, video calls, and the like. The controller 180 mayinclude a multimedia module 181 which provides multimedia playback. Themultimedia module 181 may be configured as part of the controller 180 oras a separate component.

The controller 180 can perform a pattern recognition processing so as torecognize writing or drawing input on the touch screen as text or image.

The power supply unit 190 provides power required by various componentsunder the control of the controller 180.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in acomputer-readable medium using software, hardware, or any combinationthereof.

For hardware implementation, it may be implemented by using at least oneof application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signalprocessors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs),programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors,electrical units designed to perform the functions described herein. Insome cases, such embodiments may be implemented in the controller 180itself.

For software implementation, the embodiments such as procedures orfunctions may be implemented together with separate software modulesthat allow performing of at least one function or operation. Softwarecodes can be implemented by a software application written in anysuitable programming language. The software codes may be stored in thememory 160 and executed by the controller 180.

Considering the user input unit 130 again, according to the presentdisclosure, the user input unit 130 may be displayed at a rear surfaceof the terminal such that a front display may be formed with a largersized screen. Hereinafter, a detailed structure in which the user inputunit 130 is disposed at a rear surface thereof and an operationimplemented by the user input unit 130 will be described in more detail.

FIGS. 2A through 2C are conceptual views illustrating an operationimplemented by the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the terminal has a display unit 251 disposed atone surface of the body, for example, a front surface thereof. A graphicuser interface (GUI) of an application currently being implemented maybe displayed on the display unit 251, and the display unit 251 may havea touch sensor for sensing a touch input to allow a touch input to theGUI. The display unit 251 may display visual information implemented inthe form of images, text, icons and the like such as the GUI, but asillustrated in the drawing it may be switched to a deactivated statewhen a predetermined period of time has passed or when receiving aspecific control command. FIG. 2A illustrate such a state in which thedisplay unit 251 is deactivated during the execution of a musicreproduction application.

Referring to FIG. 2B, a rear surface input unit 232 is disposed on theother surface of the body, for example, a rear surface thereof. Acontrol command for the display unit 251 is received from the rearsurface input unit 232. More specifically, when a push input is appliedto a button 233 on the rear surface input unit 232, the display unit 251is switched to an activated state. In other words, the rear surfaceinput unit 232 may be a power key for turning on or off the display unit251. Accordingly, the on/off of the terminal itself may be carried outby the button 233. According to the drawing, the GUI of the musicreproduction application is displayed while activating the display unit251.

Referring to FIG. 2C, when a push input is applied to another button 234of the rear surface input unit 232 in the state of FIG. 2B, volume isadjusted by the manipulation of the another button 234 while displayinga volume bar (VB). However, the present disclosure may not benecessarily limited to the process, and a push input to the anotherbutton 234 of the rear surface input unit 232 may be also an input forvolume adjustment in the state of FIG. 2A.

According to the above illustration, the user can enter a controlcommand on the rear surface of the terminal in a push form while lookingat the display unit 251. Consequently, the rear surface input unit on arear surface of the terminal is formed to receive a push input toperform the role of a power key and a volume key of the terminalaccording to circumstances.

Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of a mobile terminal performingthe operation of FIGS. 2A through 2C will be described in more detail.FIG. 3A is a front perspective view illustrating an example of a mobileterminal associated with the present disclosure, and FIG. 3B is a rearperspective view illustrating a mobile terminal illustrated in FIG. 3A.

The mobile terminal 200 disclosed herein is provided with a bar-typeterminal body. However, the present disclosure is not only limited tothis type of terminal, but also applicable to various structures ofterminals such as slide type, folder type, swing type, swivel type, andthe like, in which two and more bodies are combined with each other in arelatively movable manner.

The body includes a case (casing, housing, cover, etc.) forming anappearance of the terminal. In this embodiment, the case may be dividedinto a front case 201 and a rear case 202 (refer to FIG. 4). Variouselectronic components may be incorporated in a space formed between thefront case 201 and the rear case 202. At least one middle case may beadditionally disposed between the front case 201 and the rear case 202.

The cases may be formed by injection-molding a synthetic resin or may bealso formed of a metal material such as stainless steel (STS), titanium(Ti), or the like.

A display module 251, an audio output module 252, a camera module 221,and the like may be mostly disposed at the front case 201. An interface270 and the like may be disposed lateral surfaces of the front case 201and rear case 202.

The display unit 251 occupies most of a main surface of the front case201. In other words, the display unit is disposed at a front surface ofthe terminal, and formed to display visual information. The audio outputmodule 252 and camera module 221 are disposed at a region adjacent toone of both ends of the display module 251, and the front surface inputunit 231 and microphone 222 are disposed at a region adjacent to theother end.

The front surface input unit 231 may include a plurality of manipulationunits as an example of the user input unit 130 (refer to FIG. 1). Themanipulation units may be commonly designated as a manipulating portion,and any method may be employed if it is a tactile manner allowing theuser to perform manipulation with a tactile feeling. According to thisembodiment, the front surface input unit 231 is configured with a touchkey. However, the present disclosure may not be necessarily limited tothis, and a push key may be added to the front surface input unit 231.

Furthermore, the display unit 251 may form a touch screen along with atouch sensor, and in this case the touch screen may be a user inputunit. Through this, it may be possible to have a configuration with nofront surface input unit on a front surface of the terminal. In thiscase, a mobile terminal may be configured such that an inputmanipulation to the terminal body is enabled only through the displayunit 251 and rear surface input unit 232.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a camera module 221′ may be additionally mountedon a rear surface of the terminal body, namely, the rear case 202. Thecamera module 221′ has an image capturing direction, which issubstantially opposite to the direction of the camera module 221 (referto FIG. 3A), and may have a different number of pixels from that of thecamera module 221.

For example, it is preferable that the camera module 221 has arelatively small number of pixels enough not to cause a difficulty whenthe user captures his or her own face and sends it to the other partyduring a video call or the like, and the camera module 221′ has arelatively large number of pixels since the user often captures ageneral object that is not sent immediately. The camera modules 221,221′ may be provided in the terminal body in a rotatable and popupablemanner.

Furthermore, a flash and a mirror may be additionally disposed adjacentto the camera module 221′. The flash illuminates light toward an objectwhen capturing the object with the camera module 221′. The mirror allowsthe user to look at his or her own face, or the like, in a reflected waywhen capturing himself or herself (in a self-portrait mode) by using thecamera module 221′.

An audio output module (not shown) may be additionally disposed on arear surface of the terminal body. The audio output module on a rearsurface thereof together with the audio output module 252 (refer to FIG.3A) at a front surface thereof can implement a stereo function, and itmay be also used to implement a speaker phone mode during a phone call.

A power supply unit 290 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 200may be mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit 290 may beconfigured so as to be incorporated in the terminal body, or directlydetachable from the outside of the terminal body.

According to the drawing, the rear surface input unit 232 is disposed ona rear surface of the terminal body. The rear surface input unit 232 maybe located at a lower portion of the camera module 221′, for example.

The rear surface input unit 232 may be manipulated to receive a commandfor controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 200, and the inputcontent may be set in various ways. For example, the rear surface inputunit 232 may be used to receive a command, such as power on/off, start,end, scroll, or the like, and receive a command, such as controlling avolume level being outputted from the audio output module 252, orswitching into a touch recognition mode of the display module 251.

The rear surface input unit 232 according to the present disclosure maybe implemented in a push input enabled form. More specifically, the rearsurface input unit 232 may be configured with a mechanical or physicalbutton, which is a relative concept to the touch screen. Hereinafter,the configuration of the rear surface input unit 232 will be describedin more detail. FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the mobileterminal of FIG. 3B, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are a detailed exploded viewand a cross-sectional view illustrating a rear surface input unit inFIG. 4.

The circumference of the rear surface input unit 232 will be firstdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. A printed circuitboard (PCB) 281 is incorporated in the terminal body. The printedcircuit board 281 may be mounted on the front case 201 or rear case 202,or mounted on a separate structure. The separate structure may form amiddle case. Hereinafter, it is described on the basis that the frontcase 201 or rear case 202 are configured in a separate manner, but thepresent disclosure may not be necessarily limited to this, and the frontcase 201, rear case 202 and a middle case may be also formed into anintegral body.

The printed circuit board 281 is configured as an example of thecontroller 180 (refer to FIG. 1) for operating various functions of themobile terminal. There may be provided a plurality of printed circuitboards 281 to perform the function of the controller 180 through theircombination. Various electronic elements are mounted on the printedcircuit board 281 to perform such a function.

Furthermore, the printed circuit board 281 is electrically connected toan antenna (not shown) to process wireless signals corresponding towireless electromagnetic waves transmitted and received by the antenna.The antenna is disposed between the structure 203 and the printedcircuit board 281 to mostly transmit and receive wireless signalsthrough the rear case 202.

According to the drawing, the printed circuit board 281 may beelectrically connected to the camera module 221′. A batteryaccommodating portion 292 for accommodating the battery 291 is formed onthe rear case 202, and a battery cover 204 for covering the batteryaccommodating portion 292 is mounted on the case.

Furthermore, a through hole is formed on the rear case 202 and batterycover 204, respectively, and the camera module 221′ is disposed to allowthe user to look at the outside through the through holes. The cameramodule 221′ is formed to capture an external image through a rearsurface of the terminal.

Considering the rear surface input unit 232 again, the user input unit232 is overlapped with the display unit in a thickness direction of thebody and exposed to the rear surface rather than the lateral surface toremove a groove formed by the user input unit at a lateral surface ofthe body along the length direction. Hereinafter, the detailedstructured of the rear surface input unit 232 and the lateral surfacestructure of the terminal will be described in sequence.

The rear surface input unit 232 may be disposed between the cameramodule 221′ and the battery. The location of the rear surface input unit232 may be a location overlapped with the display unit 251 (refer toFIG. 3A) at the front surface thereof. Through this, it may be possibleto implement use feeling in which an input device is disposed on a rearsurface of the display unit 251. However, the present disclosure may notbe necessarily limited to this, and the location of the rear surfaceinput unit 232 may be changed. According to the drawing, the batterycover 204 is provided with a through hole (H1) corresponding to the rearsurface input unit 232. Furthermore, a through hole (H2) correspondingto the through hole (H1) may be formed at the rear case 202.

According to the drawing, a supporting member 232 a for supporting therear surface input unit 232 may be mounted on the rear case 202. Morespecifically, the supporting member 232 a is disposed at a locationcorresponding to the through hole (H2), and at least part of the bottomsurface of the supporting member 232 a is open, and a line of theprinted circuit board 232 b is electrically connected to the inner andouter sides of the supporting member 232 a. The printed circuit board232 b is configured with a flexible circuit board to be accommodatedinto a central region of the supporting member 232 a, and switches 232 cmay be disposed at the flexible circuit board. The switches may be adome switch, a piezoelectric switch, and the like.

According to the drawing, the rear surface input unit 232 may include afirst button portion 233 and a second button portion 234 correspondingto the switches. The first button portion 233 is exposed to the outsidefrom a rear surface of the terminal, and formed to receive a push inputof the first function. The first function may be a function associatedwith the on/off the power or the activation of the display unit, andaccordingly, the first button portion 233 may be a power key of theterminal as described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

The second button portion 234 is provided with keys 234 a, 234 bdisposed at both sides, respectively, around the first button portion233, and formed to receive a push input of a second function differentfrom the first function. The second function may be a functionassociated with volume adjustment for audio outputted from the body ofthe terminal as described above.

Moreover, a guide member 232 d for guiding the movement of the secondbutton portion 234 is placed on the supporting member. The second buttonportion 234 may be disposed to be inserted into a central portion of theguide member 232 d, and an edge portion thereof may be combined with thesupporting member 232 a, and an engagement wing 234 c may be protrudedalong an outer circumferential surface of the second button portion 234to be engaged with an inner side of the edge portion.

The first button portion 233 is formed to pass through the second buttonportion 234 between the keys 234 a, 234 b. In other words, a throughhole 234 d is formed on the second button portion 234. In thisarrangement, the first button portion 233 is accommodated in the throughhole 234 d of the second button portion 234 such that a portion of thefirst button portion 233 is overlapped by a portion of at least one ofthe keys 234 a, 234 b to retain the first button portion 233 in thethrough hole 234 d. The portion of the first button portion 234 iscaught by the portion of the at least one of the keys 234 a, 234 b in anopposite direction to a direction that the first button portion 233 ismoved by a push input. According to the drawing, the keys 234 a, 234 bare formed with a protruded surface as a surface exposed to the outside,and an opposite surface of the protruded surface may be formed with aplanar surface. Through this, it may be possible to recognize with whichkey the user is brought into contact with his or her feeling.

More specifically, the keys 234 a, 234 b are provided with an inclinedsurface 234 e inclined toward the through hole 234 d to form a heightdifference between the keys 234 a, 234 b and the first button portion233. The inclined surface 234 e is a surface adjacent to the firstbutton portion 233, which can be formed with a curved surface, among theprotruded surfaces. The first button portion 233 is formed in a shapeoutwardly protruded than an end portion of the inclined surface 234 e.An auxiliary inclined surface 234 f having an opposite inclination tothat of the inclined surface 234 e is formed at a portion adjacent tothe guide member on the keys 234 a, 234 b. Moreover, the first buttonportion 233 and second button portion 234 may be formed of differentmaterials. Through the structure and material, it may be possible tofacilitate differentiation between the first button portion 233 andsecond button portion 234.

In the above, a case where the rear surface input unit is configuredwith a plurality of buttons has been described, but the presentdisclosure may not be necessarily limited to this. For example, the rearsurface input unit may be provided with a single button. Furthermore,though it is illustrated that the rear surface input unit has aplurality of buttons even in the following description, a functiondefined by an input to any one of the plurality of buttons may beapplicable to the single button.

Furthermore, the rear surface input unit according to the presentdisclosure may not be necessarily limited to this. Hereinafter, anotherembodiment of the rear surface input unit will be described. FIGS. 6Aand 6B are a detailed exploded view and a cross-sectional viewillustrating a rear surface input unit according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

As illustrated in the drawing, the shape of the first and the secondbutton portion 333, 334 is formed such that the first button portion 333is protruded, contrary to the foregoing embodiment. For example, thekeys 334 a, 334 b of the second button portion 334 may have a planarportion 335 and an inclined portion 336, respectively.

The planar portion 335 is formed in parallel to a rear surface of theterminal body. Furthermore, a through hole 334 d for accommodating thefirst button portion 333 is formed on the second button portion 334 suchthat the first button portion 333 is disposed between the keys 334 a,334 b, and an inclined portion 336 is formed to be inclined toward thethrough hole 334 d from the planar portion. In this case, the firstbutton portion 333 is formed to be protruded from the planar portion 335so as to be differentiated from the keys, and the inclined portion 336is inclined in the direction protruded from the planar portion 335 suchthat the first button portion 333 and the keys 334 a, 334 b are joinedto each other at their boundary. Due to such a shape, even though thefirst button portion 333 is partially protruded from the rear surface ofthe body as illustrated in the drawing, the inclined portion 336prevents the first button portion 333 from being pushed when the rearsurface of the body is brought into contact with an external object.

Furthermore, the rear surface input unit 332 may be formed to allowlighting to the outside. More specifically, the rear surface input unit332 may include switches 332 c, a light source 337, and a light guide338.

A plurality of the switches 332 c are provided and arranged in one rowto correspond to the first and the second button portion 333, 334. Theswitches 332 c, for example, a dome switch, a piezoelectric switch andthe like, may be mounted on a flexible circuit board.

The light source 337, such as LED and the like, may be disposed adjacentto the switches 332 c. For example, the light source 337 may include afirst and a second light source 337 a, 337 b disposed at both sidesaround the row of the switches 332 c. More specifically, the lightsources may be disposed at both sides of a switch 333 a corresponding tothe first button portion 333 among the switches 332 c.

The light guide 338 is formed to cover at least part of the switches 332c and connected to the light source 337 to illuminate the light of thelight source 337. For example, the first and the second light source 337a, 337 b are connected to both ends of the light guide 338,respectively, and the light guide 338 is disposed in the directioncrossed with one row consisting of the switches 332 c to cover theswitch 333 a corresponding to the first button portion 333.

In this case, the first button portion 333 is formed of alight-transmitting material to transmit light generated from the lightsource 337 to the outside. Moreover, the second button portion 334 maybe formed of a non-light-transmitting material to prevent the light frombeing leaked out.

Furthermore, according to the drawing, a member 340 provided with aprotrusion 339 protruded toward the switches 332 c may be disposed at alower portion of the first button portion 333 and second button portion334. One surface of the member 340 is connected to the first buttonportion 333 and second button portion 334, respectively, and protrusions339 corresponding to the switches 332 c, respectively, are formed on theother surface thereof. In this case, a slit may be formed around theprotrusion 339 a corresponding to the first button portion 333.Furthermore, a through hole 338 a may be formed on the light guide 338such that the protrusion 339 a corresponding to the first button portion333 passes therethrough. Due to such a structure, a pushing force of thefirst button portion may be more efficiently transferred to the switch.

A lateral surface of the terminal may be combined with such a rearsurface input unit to form a new shape. For example, referring to FIGS.7A and 7B along with FIGS. 3A and 3B, a lateral surface of the body mayinclude a first portion 205 and a second portion 206. FIGS. 7A and 7Bare a front view illustrating the mobile terminal of FIG. 3A andconceptual views illustrating modified examples of a lateral surfacethereof.

The first portion 205 is formed at an edge of the front surface, andmade with a shape in which a predetermined cross section is extendedalong the length direction, and the second portion 206 is extended fromthe first portion 205 to be joined to the rear surface, and inclinedagainst the first portion 205 (refer to 7A and 7B(a) through 7B(d)) ormade to have a step against the first portion (refer to FIG. 7B(e)).Furthermore, a thickness of the first portion 205 may be formed to beless than that of the second portion 206. In other words, the firstportion 205 may be formed with a very low thickness since a push key isnot disposed on a lateral surface of the terminal. Through this, thedisplay unit at a front surface thereof may be formed with a largersized screen.

Furthermore, the second portion 206 is inclined in a direction that anarea of the rear surface is smaller than that of the front surface orhas a step against the first portion 205 such that the rear surface ishidden by the front surface. Even when there exists an inclination orstep at a lateral surface of the terminal, a push key is not disposed ata lateral surface of the terminal, thereby allowing a shape in which apredetermined cross section is extended.

More specifically, the second portion 206 may be a curved surfacedhaving an inclination as illustrated in FIG. 7A or a planar surfacehaving an inclination as illustrated in FIG. 7B(a). Furthermore, thesecond portion 206 may be a curved surface shape that is concaved towardan inner portion of the terminal as illustrated in FIG. 7B(b).Furthermore, the second portion 206 may be a shape having a step to thefirst portion as illustrated in FIG. 7B(c) through 7B(e). The secondportion 206 may be a curved surface having the step as illustrated inFIG. 7B(c), or may be an inclined surface having the step as illustratedin FIG. 7B(d). Otherwise, both the first and the second portion may beformed with a shape having a step with no inclination as illustrated inFIG. 7B(e). According to the present disclosure, there is presented alateral surface structure of the terminal in a new shape in connectionwith the rear surface input unit.

Moreover, the rear surface input unit allows a lateral surface structureof the terminal in another shape, and it will be described in moredetail with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 8A is a plan view illustrating another example of a mobile terminalassociated with the present disclosure.

According to the drawing, both lateral surfaces of the mobile terminal300 may have a curved outer shape having a curvature concaved toward thedisplay unit 351 of the terminal. Since a push input to the terminal isenabled using the rear surface input unit, push keys can be removed froma lateral surface of the terminal, thereby allowing a curved lateralsurface shape. Due to such a structure, it may be possible to enhancethe user's grip feeling to the terminal.

Moreover, a squeeze sensor (not shown) is disposed at the curved lateralsurface, and thus the terminal may be configured to sense the user'ssqueeze operation. The squeeze sensor is formed to sense a pressureapplied by the user, and it is recognized as a squeeze operation whenboth lateral surfaces of the terminal are pressurized by the user. Inthis case, when the user squeezes both lateral surfaces of the terminal,it may be possible to perform a function such as lock release, switchingto a home screen page, volume up/down, and the like.

FIG. 8B is a side view illustrating still another example of a mobileterminal associated with the present disclosure.

Referring to the drawing, the display unit 451 of the mobile terminal400 is provided with a flexible display, and thus a main surfacedisplaying the screen (front surface of the display unit) is formed witha curved surface.

The flexible display is a display device in which functions are properlycarried out without the loss of display characteristics even when curvedor bent, and it may be implemented using a flexible material, forexample, plastic film, as a substrate thereof.

More specifically, the front case of the terminal body is bent such thatthe front surface is concave, and the display unit 451 is bent in aconcave manner to correspond to the shape. In other words, the frontsurface of the terminal has a curvature. On the contrary, the rearsurface of the terminal is formed with a planar surface, and the rearsurface input unit 432 is disposed on the planar surface.

The lateral surface of the terminal may be formed such that thethickness varies along the length direction of the terminal tocorrespond to the structure. More specifically, the lateral surface ofthe terminal is formed in such a shape in which an upper side thereof iscurved and a lower side thereof is linear. However, the presentdisclosure may not be necessarily limited to this, and it may be alsopossible to have a structure in which the lateral surface of theterminal forms a curve as a whole, and the rear surface is formed with acurved surface as the same as the front surface.

In this manner, the arrangement of a button may be removed from thelateral surface of the terminal, and a rear surface input unit may beused, thereby implementing a new structure of the terminal.

In the above, the structure of a rear surface input unit has beenprimarily described, but the control operation of the rear surface inputunit capable of such as push input may be also modified in variousforms. Hereinafter, a modified example of the control operation throughthe rear surface input unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 9through 11. In the modified example or embodiment which will bedescribed below, the same or similar reference numerals are designatedto the same or similar configurations, and the description thereof willbe substituted by the earlier description. However, reference numeralsfor the rear surface input unit may be designated based on FIGS. 5A and5B, but they may be a rear surface input unit in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

Referring to FIG. 9, a lock screen may be displayed on the display unit251. For instance, in a state that the lock screen is displayed (or in alock mode), the display unit 251 may be in a state that only a touchinput associated with an operation for releasing the lock state isenabled.

In this state, when a push input is applied to the rear surface inputunit 232, the lock screen may be switched to a home screen page. Here,the home screen page may be expressed as an idle screen, and becomes astate of allowing a touch input to the whole region of the display unit251. In this case, the rear surface input unit 232 may be a hot key forperforming lock release.

The home screen page can be displayed on the display unit 251 when theterminal is in an idle state. More specifically, icons or widgets of theapplication installed in the mobile terminal may be displayed on thehome screen page. Furthermore, a plurality of home screen pages may beconfigured therein according to the user's selection or the number ofapplications installed in the terminal.

In this manner, switching to a home screen page may be implemented inthe form of returning to the home screen page in a state that a specificapplication is carried out while not in a lock mode. For example, whenthe rear surface input unit 232 is pushed in a state that a webpage isdisplayed on the display unit 251, it can be returned to the home screenpage. In other words, the rear surface input unit 232 may be operated asa home key performing a control command for returning to the home screenpage. Moreover, the operation as a hot key and the operation as a homekey may be carried out by the same button (for example, first buttonportion 233 or second button portion 234) of the rear surface input unit232.

Referring to FIG. 10, the second function defined by the second buttonportion 234 may be a scroll for the output information of the displayunit.

For example, a webpage containing images, text, icons and the like isdisplayed on the display unit, and a control command for the webpage isreceived from the rear surface input unit 232. More specifically, whenkeys 234 a, 234 b are pushed to the second button portion 234, thewebpage is scrolled. In this case, either one 234 a of the keys 234 a,234 b may correspond to scroll up, and the other one 234 b of the keysmay correspond to scroll down. In this case, the terminal may be formedto change the scroll up/down to each other when the terminal body isturned over. For example, a gyro sensor or the like may be provided inthe terminal to sense whether the top/down of the terminal is placednormally or reversed, thereby allowing the keys 234 a, 234 b to receivedifferent functions according to the arrangement direction of theterminal. The definition change of key input according to the directionof the terminal may be also applicable to other embodiments of thepresent disclosure such as volume up/down, scroll up/down, and the like.

Furthermore, when a touch input through the display unit and an inputthrough the user input unit are applied at the same time, it may beconfigured such that either one of the input through the user input unitand the touch input has a priority. For example, when the user inputunit is scroll down and an input corresponding to the scroll down isapplied to the display unit, the controller of the terminal performsscroll down. However, the priority may be applicable in the same mannerto other embodiments of the present disclosure.

For another example, the user may push the rear surface input unit 232to move an object displayed on the display unit 251, for example, acursor or pointer located at the icon or the like. In this case, anotherkey of the rear surface input unit 232 may be pushed subsequent tomoving the cursor or pointer, thereby performing the selection of anicon of the application, a specific key (text or numerical input key,call key, end key, etc.) of the virtual keyboard, and a specific item ofthe information list indicated by the cursor or pointer.

Furthermore, when the user clicks the first button portion 233 in awebpage mode, namely, applies a push input, the webpage of the displayunit 251 may be switched to a home screen page.

Referring to FIG. 11, the rear surface input unit 232 may be arranged inthe width direction of the terminal body. More specifically, the keys ofthe second button portion 234 is arranged in the width direction of thebody around the first button portion 233.

In this case, the second function defined by the second button portion234 may be a function associated with horizontal movement on the outputinformation of the display unit 251.

For example, when the home screen page is displayed on the display unitand a plurality of home screen pages are provided, the switching of ahome screen page may be carried out by a push input to the keys of thesecond button portion 234. More specifically, the home screen may bepage-switched to left side when the left key of the keys 234 a, 234 b ispushed, and page-switched to the right side when the right key ispushed.

In this example, it has been described a case where the rear surfaceinput unit 232 is arranged in the width direction, but it may bemodified to another form. For example, when it is configured that therear surface input unit 232 is arranged in the length direction and theterminal performs scroll using the rear surface input unit (refer toFIG. 10), the same control as the present example may be applicable whenthe terminal is rotated by 90 degrees for the user to use it in thelandscape direction.

In the above, it has been described a case where the rear surface inputunit is a push type, but the rear surface input unit may be modified invarious forms. FIGS. 12A through 12E are rear views illustrating amobile terminal associated with another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating themobile terminal of FIG. 12A.

According to the drawing, the rear surface input unit may be at leastone of a touch pad module (TP), a track ball module (TR), an opticalsensor module (OS), a wheel key module (WH) and a fingerprint scannermodule (FI). Furthermore, the terminal may perform the foregoing controloperations using the touch pad module (TP), track ball module (TR),optical sensor module (OS), wheel key module (WH) and fingerprintscanner module (FI).

For example, when a wheel key of the wheel key module (WH) is rotated ora track ball of the track ball module (TR) is rotated, it may bepossible to perform scroll for the output information of the displayunit or volume control for the audio outputted from the body accordingto the rotational direction. Furthermore, the touch pad module (TP),optical sensor module (OS) and fingerprint scanner module (FI) or thelike may perform scroll for the output information of the display unitor volume control for the audio outputted from the body by a dragoperation to the module.

Furthermore, the touch pad module (TP) in FIG. 12E may be configuredwith a touch screen. For example, the touch pad module (TP) may includea display unit (not shown) displaying simple information even in a statethat the terminal body is reversed. The display unit may include anorganic light emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display, athree-dimensional (3D) display, or the like.

Simple information displayed on the display unit may be a key buttonwhich is an object of the input through the touch pad module (TP).However, the present disclosure may not be necessarily limited to this.For example, the display unit may display information in connection withthe operation of the terminal regardless of an input through the touchpad module (TP). More specifically, count down information may bedisplayed during camera capture. When the user pushes a capture button,count down information may be displayed in the order of capture, 3, 2, 1on the display unit. For another example, information displayed on thedisplay unit may be indicator information indicating a call/messagereception while receiving a call/message, various images shown to thecounter part, or the like.

Furthermore, the rear surface input unit may be incorporated into thecamera module 221′. Referring to FIG. 13, the camera module 221′ mayinclude a capture element 225 and a frame 226. The capture element 225may be formed in such a form that a semiconductor chip for image sensingis mounted on the sensor board, and mounted on the frame 226.

The semiconductor chip may be implemented by a charge-coupled device(CCD), a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) or the like forconverting light into a charge to obtain an image. A lens assembly maybe disposed at a front surface of the semiconductor chip. In thismanner, the capture element 225 may include an optical system having alens, an image sensor, a circuit unit for processing the sensed lightsignal to obtain an image, and the like within one module.

According to the drawing, the track ball module (TR) is mounted alongwith the capture element on the frame 226. Through this, the track ballmodule (TR) and camera module 221′ may be configured with one integratedmodule. However, the present disclosure may not be necessarily limitedto this, and at least one of the touch pad module (TP), optical sensormodule (OS), wheel key module (WH) and fingerprint scanner module (FI)may be mounted along with the capture element on the frame.

Hereinafter, a user interface or user experience (hereinafter, commonlyreferred to as a “user interface”) which is useful when the rear surfaceinput unit is a touch pad module (TP), track ball module (TR), opticalsensor module (OS), wheel key module (WH) or fingerprint scanner module(FI) will be described. However, the following user interfaces may notbe necessarily limited to the touch pad module or the like, and may bealso applicable to a case where the rear surface input unit is a pushbutton.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are conceptual views illustrating a user interfaceassociated with an interlocking between the rear input unit and thedisplay unit.

Referring to FIG. 14A, an icon corresponding to the location or kind ofthe user input unit may be displayed on the display unit. For example,in case of a track ball module (TR), an icon with a track ball shape maybe displayed on the display unit.

The icon may be displayed when the user applies an input to the trackball module (TR) in a state of not being displayed on the display unit(for example, when a home screen page is displayed). In other words,when volume control is carried out using the track ball module (TR), theicon of a track ball is displayed along with a volume bar on the displayunit if the user makes contact with the track ball module to rotate thetrack ball.

In this case, the icon may be changed in its shape in connection with aninput manipulation applied to the user input unit or displays newinformation. For example, when the track ball is rotated, the icon of atrack ball displayed on the display unit is rotated at the same time.Such a control operation may be also applicable to other forms of inputstructures in which the icon of a wheel key is rotated in a concurrentmanner according to the rotation of the wheel key in case of the wheelkey module or the like.

For another example, a touch input to the icon may be processed with acontrol command corresponding to an input to the user input unit.

Referring to FIG. 14B, for example, when an icon corresponding to thewheel key is displayed, a control command defined for the wheel keymodule (WH) can be processed while the icon is rotated if flicking isapplied to the icon of the display unit other than an input to the wheelkey module (WH). For an example of the case, volume increases whenflicking is applied thereto in the direction from the upper end to thelower end of the icon, and volume decreases when flicking is appliedthereto in the opposite direction.

However, the present disclosure may not be necessarily limited to this,and for example, an input to the icon may be processed with a differentcontrol command from the input to the rear surface input unit. Forexample, when a long touch is applied to the icon, the volume may beswitched to mute.

The operation of the present embodiment may be also applicable to otherforms of input structures. For example, when an icon corresponding tothe touch pad is displayed on the display unit, a control commandprocessed by an input to the touch pad module at a rear surface of theterminal may be processed with an input to the icon of the display unit.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual view illustrating a user interface associatedwith an indicator displayed on the display unit.

According to the drawing, an indicator (I) moved by an input applied toat least one of the touch pad module, track ball module, optical sensormodule, wheel key module and fingerprint scanner module may be displayedon the display unit.

In this case, the selection of the icon of an application indicated byan indicator may be carried out by moving the indicator (I) and thenpushing the rear surface input unit 232. To this end, the touch padmodule, track ball module, optical sensor module, wheel key module,fingerprint scanner module, and the like may be configured to allow apush input.

For a more specific example, it may be possible to have a structure inwhich the frame is configured in a movable manner in FIG. 13, and a domeswitch is disposed at a lower portion of the frame to sense a push inputto the frame. The user may enter various forms of control commands suchas pushing the track ball, rotating the track ball or the like.

Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, there is proposed apeculiar structure and user interface in case where the rear surfaceinput unit is a fingerprint scanner module (FI). Hereinafter, a casewhere the rear surface input unit is a fingerprint scanner module (FI)will be described in more detail.

Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, it isillustrated that the rear surface input unit is configured with a singlebutton. However, the present disclosure may not be necessarily limitedto this. For example, the rear surface input unit may be provided with aplurality of buttons, and each button may be set to a button forreceiving at least one of functions which will be described below.

The rear surface input unit may be formed to scan a fingerprint from theuser's finger applying the push along with a push input applied thereto.More specifically, the fingerprint scanner module (FI) is mounted on asurface of the button (upper surface in this example), and a fingerprintof the finger brought in contact with the button is recognized throughthis. The button is formed to be slidable by the push, and the switch ispressurized through this. The controller senses a push input when theswitch is pressurized, and processes the corresponding control command.

However, the present disclosure may not be necessarily limited to this.For example, the push button may be replaced with a touch button. Morespecifically, a fingerprint scanner module may be disposed on an uppersurface of the touch button. Accordingly, a push input through the pushbutton may be replaced with a touch input through the touch button in anembodiment which will be described below. Moreover, the rear surfaceinput unit in the present embodiment may be a front surface input unitdisposed on a front surface of the terminal.

The fingerprint scanner module (FI) may be used as a function keyassociated with power on/off. For example, when a button of the rearsurface input unit is pushed in a state that the power of the terminalis turned off, fingerprint recognition is carried out while power issupplied to the fingerprint scanner module. The terminal determineswhether or not the recognized fingerprint corresponds to the user'sfingerprint, and continues to progress power on and terminal booting. Inthis manner, a power-on command of the terminal is carried out in twosteps (fingerprint scanner power on and terminal power on), therebyreducing current consumption. In other words, a security function basedon fingerprint recognition may be provided to the power on operation,but the fingerprint scanner module can be turned off along with theterminal body without being held in a power-on state.

Moreover, the above case is a case where the user turns on the terminal,and thus the display unit may immediately enter a home screen pagewithout passing through a lock screen when the power on and terminalbooting is completed.

Furthermore when the recognized fingerprint does not correspond to theuser's fingerprint, the power on and terminal booting will beterminated. In this case, the terminal may display a warning messagewith no user's fingerprint. The warning message may be implemented inthe form of providing a lighting effect for a predetermined period oftime on the front surface of the terminal or outputting a sound effect.

For another example, when a push input is applied to the rear surfaceinput unit in a lock mode in which the lock screen is displayed on thedisplay unit 251, the lock screen may be switched to a home screen pagewhile releasing the lock. In this case, the rear surface input unit maybe a hot key for performing lock release.

However, the lock release is carried out only when a fingerprint scannerperforms fingerprint recognition for an object brought into contact withthe fingerprint scanner for a push and the recognized fingerprintcorresponds to a prestored user's fingerprint. During the fingerprintrecognition, a notification message such as “fingerprint is beingrecognized” may be displayed on the display unit of the terminal toindicate it.

When the rear surface input unit performs a volume control function, theoperation associated with the foregoing fingerprint recognition may beapplicable all the functions that have been described with reference toFIGS. 9 through 11 as a prior condition of each function such aslimiting volume control with fingerprint recognition.

According to the present disclosure, the user input unit may be disposedat a rear surface of the terminal, thereby allowing the front display tobe formed with a larger sized screen. Furthermore, through this, a newdesign such as providing a steep slope on a lateral surface of theterminal or the like may be implemented through this. Moreover, it maybe possible to implement a new type of user interface.

Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the user candistinguish each button using a tactile feeling or the like through theshape of the user input unit without seeing it.

The configurations and methods according to the above-describedembodiments will not be applicable in a limited way to the foregoingmobile terminal, and all or part of each embodiment may be selectivelycombined and configured to make various modifications thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile terminal comprising: a terminal bodyhaving a front surface and a rear surface; a touch screen disposed atthe front surface, the touch screen formed to display visualinformation; an input unit disposed at the rear surface to sense aninput of a control command, the input unit including: a first buttonportion exposed at the rear surface of the terminal body and configuredto receive a push input corresponding to a first function; and a secondbutton portion having a through hole and keys; and a controllerconfigured to process one or more functions corresponding to an inputapplied to the input unit, wherein the first button portion isaccommodated in the through hole of the second button portion such thata portion of the first button portion is overlapped by a portion of atleast one of the keys to retain the first button portion in the throughhole, and wherein the portion of the first button portion is caught bythe portion of the at least one of the keys in an opposite direction toa direction that the first button portion is moved by the push input. 2.The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein each of the keys has a planarportion extending parallel to the rear surface and an inclined portioninclined from the planar portion toward the through hole.
 3. The mobileterminal of claim 2, wherein the first button portion protrudes from theplanar portion in a first direction and the inclined portion is inclinedin the first direction towards the first button portion.
 4. The mobileterminal of claim 1, wherein the input unit further comprises: switchescorresponding to the first button portion and the second button portion;at least one light source disposed adjacent to the switches; and a lightguide formed to cover at least part of the switches, the light guidebeing connected to the light source to emit the light of the lightsource.
 5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the switches arearranged in a single row, wherein the light guide is disposed in adirection that crosses the single row and covers a switch of theswitches corresponding to the first button portion, and wherein thefirst button portion is formed of a light-transmitting material.
 6. Themobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the input unit includes a memberdisposed at a lower portion of the first button portion and secondbutton portion, the member having protrusions protruded toward theswitches, and wherein the light guide includes a through hole to allowat least one of the protrusions to pass therethrough.
 7. The mobileterminal of claim 1, wherein the first function is a function associatedwith turning on/off of the power or activating the touch screen, andwherein the second function is a function associated with scrolling tooutput information on the touch screen or controlling the volume foraudio outputted from the terminal body.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim1, wherein a lateral surface of the terminal body extends between thefront surface and the rear surface, the lateral surface including: afirst portion formed at an edge of the front surface; and a secondportion extending from the first portion to the rear surface, the secondportion being configured to be one of inclined with respect to the firstportion and stepped to provide a stepped portion at the first portion.9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein a total area of the rearsurface is smaller than a total area of the front surface.
 10. Themobile terminal of claim 8, wherein a thickness of the first portion isless than a thickness of the second portion.
 11. The mobile terminal ofclaim 1, further comprising a supporting member, wherein the terminalbody includes a case, wherein the supporting member supports the inputunit, the supporting member being mounted at the case, and wherein acircuit board having switches corresponding to the first and the secondbutton portions is located at a central region of the supporting member.12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, further comprising: a batteryaccommodating portion arranged to accommodate a battery being providedat the case; and a battery cover mounted on the case, the battery coverbeing configured to cover the battery accommodating portion, the batterycover having a through hole corresponding to the input unit.
 13. Themobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the keys of the second buttonportion are disposed around the first button portion in a widthdirection of the terminal body, and wherein a second function isinputted by the second button portion and is associated with ahorizontal movement of the outputted information of the touch screen.14. A mobile terminal, comprising: a terminal body having a frontsurface and a rear surface; a touch screen disposed at the front surfaceand formed to display visual information; and an input unit configuredto sense an input of a control command, the input unit being overlappedby the touch screen in a thickness direction of the terminal body andexposed at the rear surface of the terminal body, the input unitincluding: a first button portion exposed at an outside of the terminalbody at the rear surface of the terminal body and configured to receivea push input corresponding to a first function; and a second buttonportion having a through hole and keys, wherein the first button portionis accommodated in the through hole of the second button portion suchthat a portion of the first button portion is overlapped by a portion ofat least one of the keys to retain the first button portion in thethrough hole, wherein the portion of the first button portion is caughtby the portion of the at least one of the keys in an opposite directionto a direction that the first button portion is moved by the push input.15. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the second button portionis configured to receive a push input corresponding to a second functiondifferent from the first function.
 16. The mobile terminal of claim 15,wherein each of the keys has an inclined surface inclined toward thethrough hole so as to provide a height difference between the firstbutton portion and the keys.
 17. The mobile terminal of claim 15,wherein the touch screen is configured to receive a touch input, andwherein only the touch screen and the input unit are enabled to receivean input command.
 18. The mobile terminal of claim 14, wherein the touchscreen is configured to receive a touch input, and wherein, when aninput through the input unit and the touch input are applied at the sametime, one of the input through the input unit and the touch input ispredetermined to have a higher priority.
 19. The mobile terminal ofclaim 14, wherein an icon corresponding to at least one of indicating alocation of the input unit or indicating a type of input unit isdisplayed on the touch screen.
 20. The mobile terminal of claim 19,wherein, in response to an input manipulation applied to the input unit,the icon is configured to do at least one of change shape and displaynew information.
 21. The mobile terminal of claim 19, wherein the mobileterminal is configured such that a touch input to the icon is processedin the same manner as a push input to the input unit.